MAGNETIC AND TRANSPORT-PROPERTIES OF TB3CO STUDIED ON SINGLE-CRYSTALS

The orthorhombic Tb3Co compound exhibits both, ferromagnetic and antif erromagnetic behavior below the critical temperature T-t approximate t o 72 K as evidenced by metamagnetic transitions along the a- and b-axi s and ferromagnetic magnetization process along the c-axis. In the tem perature interval between T-t and the Neel temperature T-N approximate to 82 K field-induced transitions along all three axes are observed. The metamagnetic transitions are accompanied by a significant magnetor esistance effect. In order to study the magnetic hysteresis in Tb3Co t he (R1-xYx)(3)Co (R = Tb, Gd) compounds have been also investigated. T he Tb3Co single crystal has permanent magnet properties along the c-ax is with the highest energy product up to 140 MG Oe at T less than or e qual to 4.2 K. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.